Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, the co-host of “Fox & Friends,” responded on Friday to criticism from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband regarding their new reality show, titled “The Great American Road Trip.”
The tension escalated when the Duffys announced their show, prompting Chasten Glezman Buttigieg to express his disapproval on social media. He accused the couple of indulging in a “month-long taxpayer-funded family road trip” during a time when gas prices and grocery costs were rising due to, as he put it, “President Trump’s war on choice.”
Chasten further labeled them as “unfocused” and “disingenuous,” bringing up past grievances about the Duffys’ comments on his husband, who had once worked in the ICU while their child was hospitalized.
Buttigieg himself chimed in, stating, “I love a good road trip, but this is so outrageous. Cabinet members from Trump are making documentaries about themselves while the average family can’t afford one due to rising gas prices from Trump’s policies.”
In response, Rachel Campos-Duffy told Chasten to “get off” and clarified that the show’s funding came from the nonprofit Great American Road Trip. She emphasized that her family participated for free to mark America’s 250th anniversary and pointed out that filming occurred over seven months with short breaks.
Furthermore, she noted that her husband had achieved significant advancements at the Department of Transportation (DOT) compared to Buttigieg’s four-year tenure. Sean Duffy, in his rebuttal, attacked “radical leftists” for their disdain towards the series, claiming it was purely wholesome, patriotic, and enjoyable.
Duffy also insisted that all regulations were followed and that no taxpayer money was involved, assuring everyone that filming only took place during weekends or school breaks. He defended his initiatives at DOT, highlighting advancements in air traffic control and efforts to remove illegal truck drivers while increasing the number of controllers hired.
After the Duffys clarified their position, Chasten Buttigieg changed his approach and shared critiques targeting corporate sponsors of the road trips, including companies regulated by the DOT, like Boeing and United Airlines. These critiques suggested a conflict of interest and linked the sponsorship to accusations against Duffy of neglecting safety standards.
Despite the ongoing political exchanges and shifting narratives from critics, the Duffy family is urging others to ignore negativity and embrace exploration of the nation’s parks and historical sites as July 4th approaches.
“Our message is straightforward: to love America is to see America,” Sean Duffy expressed. “So, put down your phone, hit the open road, and rediscover what makes America great.”
